“Muslim Forum welcomed declaration by HRD minister not to delete Muslim from AMU and Hindu from BHU“

Vplnews, Aligarh, 10 2017: Welcoming the declaration of Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and Union minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi that the government has no intention to delete word Muslim and Hindu from the Aligarh Muslim University and the Benaras Hindu University, the Forum for Muslim Studies & Analysis (FMSA) has said that the ministry of HRD should initiate action against its appointed Audit Committee for over stepping their jurisdiction in recommending deletion of word Muslim and Hindu from both the universities.

In this connection Muslim Forum Director Dr. Jasim Mohammad told that HRD ministry had appointed a high powered Audit Committee to inquire the complaints of irregularities in ten central universities which also included AMU and BHU. He said that in its report the Committee also suggested that the word Muslim and Hindu should be deleted from names of AMU and BHU. He said as the Committee was given the task of only auditing academic, infrastructural and appointments, it should not have recommended deletion of word Muslim and Hindu as both AMU and BHU are historical universities and their Acts were passed by the parliament. Only parliament has the power to amend their Acts. Why Committee members created this fuss is beyond imagination?

Dr. Jasim Mohammad said that Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar has clearly said that the government has no intention to change name of AMU and BHU. He further said that the Committee was not given any power to go beyond its briefs. He said that Union Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has also government has no intention to make any changes in names of AMU and BHU. Dr. Jasim Mohammad said now the picture is clear and fence sitters of both communities should not raise the issue. He said that the ministry of HRD should take action against Committee members as they have tried to damage social and communal harmony in country. The Committee has tried to defame the central government which must be condemned.

Dr. Jasim Mohammad said that even AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Tariq Mansoor has said that the Committee had mandate to inquire financial irregularities. The name AMU does not affect our secular credentials and even high court had dismissed a PIL to change name of AMU.

Dr. Jasim Mohammad appealed to all sections of society that the central government and HRD ministry both are serious to develop AMU and BHU and so we all should not escalate the uncalled-for issue, any further.